Hongdae BBQ with drum-barrel seats and 3 kimchi sides: Mapo Gui Madang
In short
Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is a retro frozen pork belly restaurant in an alley between Hongik University Station and Seogyo-dong, Seoul. Two of us ordered 3 servings of frozen pork belly, added 1 more, and finished with jjagyechi (ramyeon with cheese and egg); the three kimchi sides — scallion, regular and white kimchi — and the clothes storage under the drum-barrel tables stood out most. Grilling Jeolla-style scallion kimchi where the pork fat runs down is the heart of a meal at Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch.
Good to know
- Address
- 49 World Cup buk-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Seogyo-dong)
- Signature dishes
- Frozen pork belly, whole pork belly, whole pork neck, spicy stir-fried octopus, whole pork intestine, jjagyechi, Jeolla-style scallion kimchi and more
- Side dishes
- Scallion kimchi, regular kimchi, white kimchi
- What we ordered
- 3 servings of frozen pork belly + 1 extra serving, jjagyechi, beer
- Parking
- No dedicated lot, or very limited space
- Waiting
- Waits possible in the evening, especially Friday to Sunday nights
- Seating
- Drum-barrel tables with storage for coats and bags under the seats
as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026
Today I'm sharing a review of a place near Hongdae that left me seriously satisfied... a Hongdae meat restaurant!! A Hongdae must-visit!!!! Retro-vibe grill houses are all the rage these days, right? I went with a friend, the two of us ate four servings plus jjagyechi... let me introduce Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch!
Where is Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch, and what's on the menu?
Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch is at 49 World Cup buk-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Seogyo-dong), South Korea. The signature dishes are frozen pork belly, whole pork belly, whole pork neck, spicy octopus, whole pork intestine, jjagyechi, Jeolla-do style scallion kimchi, and more.
- Address: 49 World Cup buk-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Seogyo-dong), South Korea
- Signature dishes: Frozen pork belly, whole pork belly, whole pork neck, spicy octopus, whole pork intestine, jjagyechi, Jeolla-do style scallion kimchi, and more
- Highlight: A true Hongdae/Seogyo-dong frozen pork belly spot known for its grilled Jeolla-do style scallion kimchi combo
Parking and waiting times at Mapo Gui Madang
On parking — there's no dedicated lot for the restaurant, or it's quite limited. In the evenings or on weekend nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), there can be a wait from customers looking to enjoy frozen pork belly with a drink.
Retro exterior and interior of this Seogyo-dong grill house
Walking down the alley between Hongdae and Seogyo-dong, the hip yet nostalgic exterior caught my eye from a distance. Lately I find myself drawn much more to this kind of weathered retro feel than anything too shiny and new!
Stepping inside, the cozy pojangmacha (street-tent bar) atmosphere is really charming 🥺
Drum-barrel tables with clothes storage under the seats
Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch has round drum-barrel tables with space underneath the chairs where you can tuck your coat and bag away, sparing you the worry about smells soaking in — such a thoughtful touch! 💯
Three kimchi side dishes: scallion, regular and white
The side dishes!! Scallion kimchi, regular kimchi, white kimchi — is this even allowed??? This is what makes a real must-visit restaurant.
Three servings of frozen pork belly on the grill 🔥
As soon as we sat down, we ordered the nation's soul food — frozen pork belly — right away, hehe (three servings for two people is basically standard, right? 🤫)
Lining the frozen pork belly up neatly on the round grill plate, the sizzling sound and smell alone were enough to drive me crazy ㅠㅠ They also give you a salt-and-pepper shaker, and you know frozen pork belly has to be sprinkled with this if you really know what you're doing. Had a beer with it too — how could I possibly resist!!!??
Being thin so it cooks fast the moment it hits the grill is frozen pork belly's biggest advantage, right? The first crispy bite made me let out an actual gasp of amazement... the juiciness was incredible 😭 And the kimchi was so good... it's delicious grilled, delicious just eaten plain... I wanted to buy some to take home.
The highlight: grilled Jeolla-style scallion kimchi
There's one thing here you absolutely cannot skip — the Jeolla-do style scallion kimchi. Honestly this alone earns it its Hongdae must-visit status. Placing the scallion kimchi right where the pork fat drips down and grilling it together opens up a whole new world of flavor. The pungent yet spicy-tangy, perfectly fermented scallion kimchi genuinely had my chopsticks moving nonstop.
Ordered one more serving, I'm not okay... two women ended up eating four servings of frozen pork belly plus jjagyechi.....
Finishing with jjagyechi (ramyeon with cheese and egg)
My stomach felt like it was about to burst, but you all know finishing with carbs is the unwritten rule, right? Humming to myself, I ordered an extra jjagyechi. First time I've seen cucumber in jjagyechi... (hated cucumber so I picked it out and ate around it). Anyway, it was so delicious.
If you're looking for a can't-miss frozen pork belly restaurant near Hongdae, give Mapo Gui Madang Seogyo Direct Branch a try! You really won't regret it... + also recommend it as a Hongdae group dinner spot.
Where it is
49 World Cup buk-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Seogyo-dong), South Korea서울특별시 마포구 월드컵북로 49
